Before moving to Kirishima, I had never even heard of giant river potholes—natural rock formations carved into the riverbed over thousands of years.
I first learned about them while browsing a local website, and the more I read, the more I wanted to see them for myself.
Since they were only a short drive away, I decided to make the trip.
At first, I thought about waiting until spring.
But in the end, I realized I wanted to experience this place in the crisp, quiet air of winter.
The temperature that day was just 2°C.
It was cold.
Very cold.
At least, that’s what I was thinking as I walked along a narrow path covered with fallen leaves.
But the moment I reached the riverside and saw the giant river potholes, I forgot all about the cold.
The scenery took my breath away.
Everything was incredibly quiet.
It felt wonderfully peaceful, as though very few people ever came here.
The only man-made structure was a small concrete bridge leading to the potholes.
Everything else was simply nature, left untouched.
Fallen trees lay where they had fallen.
Very little had been altered by people, making the landscape feel even more authentic and beautiful.
The only sounds were the gentle flow of the river, birds singing in the trees, and the distant sound of a waterfall.
Occasionally, I could hear an airplane passing high overhead, but apart from that, there was almost no sign of human activity.
The silence was so complete that I found myself standing there without speaking, quietly taking it all in.
It reminded me that some of the greatest beauty can be found in places that have simply been left alone.
Kirishima is blessed with many beautiful natural places, but this has become one of my personal favorites.
If you’re visiting the area, it’s well worth adding to your itinerary.
It’s just a short drive from Shiobitashi Onsen Ryoma Park and not far from the Kirishima Onsen area.
If you have the chance, I hope you’ll visit and experience its quiet beauty for yourself.
出張や観光で霧島に来られた方で、
静かに過ごせる場所を探している方は、こちらもご覧ください。
